Thomas Mulcair and the federal NDP have nailed down the first plank of their 2015 election platform by committing to a national childcare program.

Key elements of the plan:

Cap the fees at $15 per day per child.

60/40 cost sharing between the provinces/territories and the federal government.

$290 million in new federal funding in 2015/16

60,000 childcare spaces funded in 2015/16

Work with the provinces, territories and Indigenous communities to fund and develop national early childhood education and childcare programs delivered with common principles like affordability, availability and quality.

Enshrine the program in legislation.

Ensure long-term, predictable funding so provinces and communities can plan ahead: this will be phased in over an eight-year time period.

Support or maintain the creation of one million new childcare spaces within eight years, when the program is fully phased in.